Adding value: should i convert my dining area into a 2nd bedroom?

Fulham_Mark

Help! I have 4 weeks to do any conversion/DIY to my place. But can't decide on this problem...
What would you do if you owned my place?

I have a 1 bed flat with a long living room (24ftx12) separated into a dining area at one end slightly narrower (8ftx12). Some people in similar flats have extended the separating wall to create a second bedroom - however the door to this bedroom would therefore be in the living room. Both rooms would be south facing but on the small side but hey I have a 2 bed flat.

An alternative would be to leave things as they are and open out this area by moving the kitchen access round 90 degrees from the hall into the living room so make it slightly open-plan - large living area and dining area and better kitchen access. This would leave it as a large 1-bed possibly feeling even larger (most new builds are 25% smaller in size)

Another alternative would be a sliding door/wall-to-ceiling curtain to make a second bedroom only when needed. Sounds sensible but often choosing a compromise can be a cop-out or turn out to be a bit naff.

2 bed flats here sell for 45% more but are 35% larger in size. Mine is 550sqft.
Place is v close to tube, has parking, is 1990s build, mostly young couples living there plus parents buying a place for their student kids, about 50% rented.

Any advice will be v gratefully received!! i'm useless at interior design stuff!

BettiePage

moving the kitchen would be more expensive and messy.

Have you asked an ea what would give you the most back?

And why only 4 weeks?

Fulham_Mark

thanks for the replies so far.

I spoke to an estate agent who said that a 1-bed that wasn't close to the tube was a no-no (i'm ok there), plus if i was in a hurry to sell i didn't need to make it a 2-bed but that if I did this cheaply as it would compare v well to 2-beds in the area (push the £1/2M mark for some absurb reason)

I've got 4 weeks before I start a new job. I'm not in a rush to sell but this is the only opportunity i'll have to do any major changes to it.

The living area if partitioned off would be square, 12ft by 12ft, it has a 2 person sofa-bed, long tv unit thing, bookshelf, easychair and large storage unit plus wide patio doors at the far end. so would fit 2 adults and baby.

The dining area currently has a day-bed at one end plus a office-area in an alcove. My glass dining table still fits in but it looks rather cramped so I may have to ditch this

Mark

Doozergirl

If the living area is 24'x12' and the dining are is 8'x12', what happened to 4'?

16'x12' is ample but 12'x12' is not so much.

Instead of using the obvious section of wall to divide, could you remove the wall and divide nearer to the living room door in order to create space for you to have two doors rather than a bedroom off the living room?